Heat exchange device



` Sept. 29, 1936. A B. MODlNE 2,055,549

HEAT EXCHANGE DEVICE Filed May 18, 1934 Patented Sept. 29, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT ori-ICE Application May 18, 1934, Serial No. 726,303

1 Claim.

This invention relates to heat exchange devices, and particularly to a device wherein a core is provided and designed to permit the passage of air therethrough.

One object .of the present invention is to improve the weight efficiency of the material ernployed in a heat exchange device, determined by the relationship between the cooling capacity and the weight of the material.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described wherein a substantial saving in materials may be had, and consequently a substantial reduction in the ultimate cost of production obtained.

A further object of the invention is to provide a heat exchange device of less material and reduced cost, and wherein the heat exchange capacity of the device as a whole, is maintained. and is substantially equal to that of a device of commonplace design.

A still further object of the invention is to improve devices of the character described insundry details hereinafter referred to and particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

Several species of the present invention are embodied and shown for illustrative purposes in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a. front view of va motor vehicle radiator unittypifying a heat exchange device embodying novel features characterizing the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view of a portion of the structure illustrated in Fig. 1, and taken substantially as indicated by the line 2-2 thereof;

Fig. 3 Ais a plan sectional view taken substan- I tially as indicated by the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentaryy plan sectional view similar to Fig. 3 illustrating a modified construction andA arrangement which the present invention may assume; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional elevation view similar to Fig. 2 illustrating a further modified construction and arrangement embodying features of the presentA invention.

In Fig. 1 of the drawing, the present invention is shown as applied to a heat exchange device having a shell, indicated as 'a whole by the numeral 6. comprising side portions 1 and upper and lower tanks or headers 8 and 9,`re spectively,

and. as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the present invention contemplates a core, indicated as a whole by the numeralI I I, positioned within the shell 6 between the headers 8 and 9,the core II having open portions for the passage of air therethrough in the direction indicated by the arrows in the respective figures of the drawing.

The core illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 comprises a plurality of vertically spaced ns of substantially uniform thickness having a plurality 5 of series of apertures I3 formed therein adapted, respectively, to receive a plurality of series of vertically disposed fluid conducting 'tubes I4 for conducting heated fluid between the headers 8 and 9, the tubes of the respective series being 1o relatively spaced longitudinally of the fins, and the respective series of tubes being spaced transversely of the ns to provide a plurality of related regions or zones indicated, respectively, and for convenience in the further description of the present invention, by the characters A, B and C, the tubes I4 of zone B being spaced further apart and consequently of less number than in the first or receiving zone A, and the tubes in zone C being spaced still further apart and consequently of still lesser number than in zone B.

It is of course well known that the air entering zone A at the receiving side of the core is of maximum temperature potential, i. e., the relative difference in temperature between the air and the heated surface, or the ability of the air to absorb heat, permits a maximum exchange of heat from the heated surface to the air in-its passage through zone A. Assuming that the most desirable spacing of tubes and ns and n material thickness in zone A has been established, it will be evident that by passing the air through zone A, its temperature potential or its ability to absorb heat is lowered and as a consequence the air upon entering Zone B is incapable of absorbing a like degree of heat from the heated surface in this zone. For the reason that less duty therefore is exacted upon the heat transfer ability of the heated surfaces in zone B, the spacing of the tubesin zone B may be increased and the number of tubes reduced. Thisv results in an increase of the weight eiiciency of the structure' for the reason that more material is displaced than that which is proportionate to the resultant loss in' heat transfer capacity of the 45 structure through the reduction of the number of tubes. Owing to the conditions similar to those above described, t-he potential of the air after passing through zone B is reduced still further, and by reason of the temperature of the air more nearly approaching that of the tubes, the air upon entering zone C is further incapable of absorbing any great degree of heat from the tubes I4 of zone C regardless of their number. thus permitting an increased spacing and a consequent'reduction in the number of 'tubes in zone C according to the l reduction in temperature potential of. the air after passing through zone B andas it enters zone C, all without materially lessening the heat exchange capacity of the device as a. whole.

It will be observed from the foregoing descrip--l l sive reduction in the .temperature potential of the material used in the air as it passes through the core, thus permitting a decrease, successively, in the quantity of material used in the respective zones, thereby increasing the weight eiciency of. the material employed, and substantially lowering the cost of pro- Y duction, but without materially reducing the heat exchange capacityof the device as a whole.

In the structure illustrated in Fig. 4, the core I I' is formed of fins I2', which are provided with a. plurality of *spaced apertures I3' adapted, re-

spectively, to receive a plurality of series of verticallyv disposed fluid conducting tubes I4', the tubes of the respective series being spaced longitudinally of the ns while the respective `series of tubes are spaced transversely of the ns to provide a plurality of related regions or zones indicated, respectively as A', B' and C in a manner similar to that referred to in connection with the structure illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

It will be noted, by referring to Fig. 4, that while the tubes I4 in all of the zones A', B and C', are substantially uniformly spaced, 7the tubes'v of the series in the respective zones are.of different cross-sectional area, the tubes in zone B being smaller than inthe first or receiving zone A', and those in zone C' being smaller than the tubes'in'zone B', in other words, the tubes of. the respective series in zones A', B' and C', are reduced, successively, in cross-sectional area, proceeding in the direction of air flow, or fromthe receiving `side to the discharge side of the core.

It will be observed also that by reason of the structure characterizing Fig. 4, the quantity of respective zones decreases, successively, in the direction Lfof `air flow according to the reduction in the temperature potential of the air as it passes through the core, thereby also increasing the weight efficiency of the material employed and substantially lowering the cost of production owithout materially reducing the heat exchange capacityv of the device as a whole.

In the construction shown in Fig. 5, similar results may 'be obtained by providing a core II" with a plurality of ns I2" having uid conducting tubes I4" extending therethrough, all of the tubes I4" of Fig'. 5, beingv of substantially uniform .size and cross-section, and being uniformly spaced in series to form' related regions or zones A", B" and C". In Fig. 5,.the air receiving edges of the fins I2" are thicker'than the discharge edge portions, and the upper and lower faces of the fins are inclined .or tapered toward each other from adjacent the air receiving side of the core II to adjacent the discharge side thereof, thereby also providing a structure wherein the quantity of material used in the respective zones A", B" and C" decreases, successively, in the direction of air ow, approximately according to the reduction in the temperature potential of the air as it passes through the core.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the` present invention provides a novel construction and arrangement whereby the weight eflciency of the material employed is increased, and substantial vsaving in the cost of production of a heat exchange device of the characten described is obtained, without materially lowering the effective heat exchange capacity of thedevice.

Obviously, the present invention is not limited to the precise construction and arrangement shown .and described, as the same may be variously modied without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claim.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A heat exchange device having a core provided with open portions for the passage of air therethrough, said core comprising a plurality of substantially uniformly spaced fins and a plurality of series of relatively spaced fluid conducting tubes extending through said ns, said series of tubes being spaced t'r'ansversely of the ns to provide a plurality of zones between the air receivingvside and the 'd.ischarge side of'said core,

the tubes of the respective series being substantially uniformly spaced and of less cross-sectional area, successively, in the respective zones beyond the first zone proceeding in vthe direction of air ow through the core.

ARTHUR, B. MoDnvE. 

